Please pray for Yohanan ben Sara and Asher Shalom ben Devorah plus
my usual prayer list.
Parsha Vayeishev
This week’s Parsha
starts out that finally the Tzaddik, Yacov-Yisrael, has a little pleasure in
his life and his sons are taking over the business in their 20’s and Yosef is
an older teen. In our Parsha, both Yehuda and Yosef are starting out to make
the Moshiach. It will only be in next week’s Parsha that Yosef marries.
37:1
And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojornings, in the land of Canaan.
2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was
feeding the flock with his brethren, being still a lad even with the sons of
Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought
evil report of them unto their father.
Yacov has 12 sons and yet only one is mentioned. For because of a
few colored bans on Yosef’s garment and giving him more love than the other
sons, Yacov caused jealousy to arise. Always there will be one child that feels
left out whether the case is so or not and it can be, no matter how fair a
person is, that one will get just a wee bit more than another. Yosef’s dreams
just added to the jealousy and hatred and Yacov could see it and rebuked him.
3
Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of
his old age; and he made him a coat of many colors.
The coat perhaps was given to him because Yacov loved Rachel more
and he was the only child who really grew up in his primary years from Rachel.
Perhaps because he was an orphan but Benyamin was one too but never knew his
mother. Still the color stripes perhaps made him into a very cocky teenager.
4
And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his
brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
Jealousy breeds hatred and favoritism does this too.
5
And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren; and they hated him
yet the more. 6 And he said unto them: 'Hear, I pray you, this dream which I
have dreamed: 7 for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my
sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came round
about, and bowed down to my sheaf.'
It is not astounding that our Sages in Perkei Avos wrote: “A fence
for Chachma is silence!” Because he was favorited and told his dreams to all,
they did not view him as a cocky child but a treat to them.
8
And his brethren said to him: 'Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou
indeed have dominion over us?' And they hated him yet the more for his dreams,
and for his words. 9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his
brethren, and said: 'Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream: and, behold, the sun
and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.' 10 And he told it to his
father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him:
'What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy
brethren indeed come to bow down to thee to the earth?'
This time Yacov rebuked him as he had gone too far to include the
older generation. In Berachos we learn approximately Daf 55 that all dreams
contain some nonsense even if they are prophetic example thin cows eating fat
ones or thin sheaves eating larger ones.
11
And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.
Even still his father had this in mind but never-the-less Yosef
had crossed the line by jumping a generation.
… 18
And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired
against him to slay him.
This was the hot-headed Shimon inciting Levi and the others.
19
And they said one to another: 'Behold, this dreamer comes. 20 Come now
therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will
say: An evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his
dreams.' 21 And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand; and said:
'Let us not take his life.' 22 And Reuben said unto them: 'Shed no blood; cast him
into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him'--that he
might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
Reuven is credited as saving him for he kept Yosef in Eretz
Yisrael even though the pit was filled with dangerous snakes and scorpions for
that was in Eretz Yisrael while Yehuda who physically saves him is not for he
sends him out of Israel. – From one of the Torah Scholars of about 150 or so
years ago.
… 24
and they took him, and cast him into the pit--and the pit was empty, there was
no water in it.
No water but poisonous snakes and scorpions were there.
25
And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and,
behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing
spicery and balm and ladanum, going to carry it down to Egypt.
They ate bread because they felt good that they did not murder him
and that the snakes and scorpions would do the job. This brings us back to dysfunctional
families that started when Avram left the idols of Terach, Yishmael-Yitzchak,
Esav-Yacov, Lavan-Yacov and now this. However, all is well that ends well and
later on including the start of Shemos “And the sons of Yacov (Yisrael) were
tweleve”.
26
And Judah said unto his brethren: 'What profit is it if we slay our brother and
conceal his blood?
His Kavannah might have been good to physically save Yosef, but
selling him for a slave and to Chutz LaAretz is criticized by the scholars of
the past generations for it is better to be with snakes and scorpions in Eretz
Yisrael than alive outside of Aretzaynu.
29
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and
he rent his clothes. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said: 'The child
is not; and as for me, whither shall I go?'
A true leader cannot be missing in action one must be on top of
running the country 24/7 nowadays. It was not much different then but the pace
of life was slower than today.
31
And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the
blood; 32 and they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their
father; and said: 'This have we found. Know now whether it is thy son's coat or
not.' 33 And he knew it, and said: 'It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath
devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.'
Mida Knegged Mida (measure for measure) as Yacov deceived his
father with a garment what went around came around to him. Call it Karma
kick-back if you want but that is what happened. Still this was a message that
no parent should hear and at his advanced age could kill him. (Inyanay Diyoma
one day after her daughter’s death the mother dies - http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/12/28/iconic-actress-debbie-reynolds-dies-at-84.html
34
And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for
his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort
him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said: 'Nay, but I will go down to
the grave to my son mourning.' And his father wept for him.
When somebody is dead, he is forgotten after a year but if alive,
he stays in the mind.
36
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's,
the captain of the guard.
While the preparation
for Moshiach ben Yosef is now about to unfold, our narrative goes to the making
of the Moshiach ben David via the Yehuda and Tamar. As righteous as Yehuda was,
being a widower and his Yetzer getting the better of him to start the Messianic
line, he says “She is more righteous than I”! Coming from a Tzaddik who will
sire the Moshiach that is something!
38:1
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and
turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there
a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her, and
went in unto her. …6 And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name
was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD;
and the LORD slew him. 8 And Judah said unto Onan: 'Go in unto thy brother's
wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her, and raise up seed
to thy brother.' …11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law: 'Remain a
widow in thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown up'; for he said:
'Lest he also die, like his brethren.' And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's
house.
For he was afraid that
she was so beautiful, that his sons were dying. It was for preservation of her
figure that they refused to obtain children but he did not know it.
12 And in process of time Shua's
daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto
his sheep-shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
He would be a relatively
young widower and lacking a woman for he married off his children young. He was
in his 20’s when Yosef is sold and add 22 years, he is still young and this is
before he meets Yosef or the famine.
13 And it was told Tamar, saying:
'Behold, thy father-in-law goes up to Timnah to shear his sheep.' 14 And she
put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her
veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the entrance of Enaim, …15 When Judah saw
her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she had covered her face. 16 And he
turned unto her by the way, and said: 'Come, I pray thee, let me come in unto
thee'; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said: 'What
will thou give me, that thou may come in unto me?' 17 And he said: 'I will send
thee a kid of the goats from the flock.' And she said: 'Wilt thou give me a
pledge, till thou send it?' 18 And he said: 'What pledge shall I give thee?'
And she said: 'Thy signet and thy cord, and thy staff that is in thy hand.' And
he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
He essentially gave her
the symbols of kingship. She wanted children but he was over-come with desire
that he could not logically explain to himself. For he should have given her
his youngest son. He lost two through her and will regain two through her.
24 And it came to pass about three
months after, that it was told Judah, saying: 'Tamar thy daughter-in-law has
played the harlot; and moreover, behold, she is with child by harlotry.' And
Judah said: 'Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.'
She really did play the
harlot but with whom?
25 When she was brought forth, she
sent to her father-in-law, saying: 'By the man, whose these are, am I with
child'; and she said: 'Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and
the cords, and the staff.' 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said: 'She is
more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son.' And he
knew her again no more.
That is the Pshat there
are Sages that claimed that they became unseparated.
…39:1
And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer Hebrew specifies Eunuch of Pharaoh's, the captain of
the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, … 6 And he
left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and, having him, he knew not aught save
the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was of beautiful form, and fair to look
upon. 7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her
eyes upon Joseph; and she said: 'Lie with me.'
Being close to Pharaoh and near the Harem he had to become a
Eunuch. This only added to the lust of this woman.
8
But he refused, and said unto his master's wife: 'Behold, my master, having me,
knoweth not what is in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my
hand; 9 he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any
thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God?'
Rabbi Salid Shlita wrote: In this
week's Parsha, Yosef invokes a fundamental point of Judaism. When tempted by
his master's wife, Yosef offers many reasons not to engage with her. His final
reason is: "How can I do this great evil and sin against G-d?"
Ultimately, the only reason not to sin is because it violates G-d's will.
There is a famous Gemara which tells us that G-d offered the Torah to the other nations before offering it to the Jews. Each nation had an excuse for rejecting it. The sons of Esav couldn't accept the prohibition of murder. The sons of Yishmael couldn't accept the prohibition of theft. The sons of Amon and Moav couldn't accept the prohibition of adultery.
The obvious question is that these nations already had these laws. We know from Hammurabi’s code and other sources that there was a system of justice among the nations. Why, then, did they reject the commandments?
The answer is that they wanted law to be manmade so that they could be adjusted at man's whim and wish. If it is up to man to define murder, he can decide whom to kill and simply not call it murder. The same is true of the other prohibitions. They did not want a Torah from heaven whose parameters are defined only by G-d.
Yosef was telling Potiphar’s wife a similar idea. There can be many reasons not to commit adultery, but ultimately, the only reason that counts is that G-d decreed it to be evil.
There is a famous Gemara which tells us that G-d offered the Torah to the other nations before offering it to the Jews. Each nation had an excuse for rejecting it. The sons of Esav couldn't accept the prohibition of murder. The sons of Yishmael couldn't accept the prohibition of theft. The sons of Amon and Moav couldn't accept the prohibition of adultery.
The obvious question is that these nations already had these laws. We know from Hammurabi’s code and other sources that there was a system of justice among the nations. Why, then, did they reject the commandments?
The answer is that they wanted law to be manmade so that they could be adjusted at man's whim and wish. If it is up to man to define murder, he can decide whom to kill and simply not call it murder. The same is true of the other prohibitions. They did not want a Torah from heaven whose parameters are defined only by G-d.
Yosef was telling Potiphar’s wife a similar idea. There can be many reasons not to commit adultery, but ultimately, the only reason that counts is that G-d decreed it to be evil.
10
And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not
unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass on a certain
day, when he went into the house to do his work, and there was none of the men
of the house there within, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying: 'Lie
with me.' And he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. …20
And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the
king's prisoners were bound; and he was there in the prison.
He did not kill Yosef for he knew that he was not guilty as the
other servants with the help from HASHEM dared to speak up to save him.
21
But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor
in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison
committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and
whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
Cutting the story short, Yosef interprets the dreams that the
chief baker and chief cup bearer have and the former is hung and the later is
freed and does not remember Yosef.
21
And he restored the chief butler back unto his butlership; and he gave the cup
into Pharaoh's hand. 22 But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had
interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but
forgot him.
Parsha Mikeitz
Two more years, Yosef is left in jail because he put his trust in
the baker and not in HASHEM. It is time for Yosef’s dreams to be fulfilled.
Trust in HASHEM to make it so.
41:1
And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and,
behold, he stood by the river. 2 And, behold, there came up out of the river
seven kine, well-favored and fat-fleshed; and they fed in the reed-grass. 3
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored
and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4
And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favored and
fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
As mentioned above from Mesecta Berachos, all dreams contain a
little nonsense in them even prophetic ones.
5
And he slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up
upon one stalk, rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with
the east wind, sprung up after them. …8 And it came to pass in the morning that
his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt,
and all the wise men thereof; and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was
none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. 9 Then spoke the chief butler unto
Pharaoh, saying: 'I make mention of my faults this day: … 12 And there was with
us there a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we
told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his
dream he did interpret.
The laws of Egypt were that a stranger (Hebrew), a youth, a slave,
could not be a Prime Minister. However, Pharaoh claiming to be Divine could
over-rule any law.
13
And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was: I was restored unto
mine office, and he was hanged.' 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and
they brought him hastily out of the dungeon. And he shaved himself, and changed
his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'I have
dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard say
of thee, that when thou hear a dream thou canst interpret it.' 16 And Joseph
answered Pharaoh, saying: 'It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of
peace.'
Yosef acknowledges where his knowledge comes from.
17
And Pharaoh spoke unto Joseph: 'In my dream, behold, I stood upon the brink of
the river. 18 And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine,
fat-fleshed and well-favored; and they fed in the reed-grass. 19 And, behold,
seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and
lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness. 20 And
the lean and ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine. … 24 And the
thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. And I told it unto the magicians;
but there was none that could declare it to me.' 25 And Joseph said unto
Pharaoh: 'The dream of Pharaoh is one; what God is about to do He hath declared
unto Pharaoh.
When Yosef said this, Pharaoh’s eyes were opened and could see the
aura of the Shechina upon Yosef.
26
The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years:
the dream is one. 27 And the seven lean and ill-favored kine that came up after
them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind;
they shall be seven years of famine. 28 That is the thing which I spoke unto
Pharaoh: what God is about to do He hath shown unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there
come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. 30 And there
shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be
forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; 31 and
the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine which follows;
for it shall be very grievous. 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto
Pharaoh twice, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will
shortly bring it to pass.
It is not a far-off dream of years aka 22 years before his
brothers bow unto him, but it will be immediate.
33
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the
land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint overseers over the
land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven years of
plenty. 35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that come, and
lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep
it. 36 And the food shall be for a store to the land against the seven years of
famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through
the famine.'
He knew what would be and how to solve the problem and spoke with
prophecy.
37
And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his
servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants: 'Can we find such a one as
this, a man in whom the spirit of God is?' 39 And Pharaoh said
unto Joseph: 'Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so
discreet and wise as thou. 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto
thy word shall all my people be ruled; only in the throne will I be greater
than thou.'
You will be the Prime Minister second to me and this is my Divine
Decree.
41
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph: 'See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.'
42 And Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's
hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his
neck.
And from the lowest of the low to the second highest in the land
in a matter of minutes. Our Sages of blessed memory say “The salvation of
HASHEM is in the blinking of an eye.” Chachamim predicted that the coming of
the Moshiach will come suddenly like one spots a scorpion (Tractate Eruvim)
similar to the rise of Yosef. From a dirty prisoner in the dungeon to a man
with Pharaoh’s ring and tremendous power and gold upon him. But now he is not a
cocky 17-year-old but a responsible adult.
43
And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried
before him: 'Abrech'; and he set him over all the land of Egypt.
Literally ben the knee or kneel before Yosef. [This is not to be
confused with a person who learns in Kollel and is translated as a young or
tender father Av Rach and is not yet a Rabbi – today used generally on people
who study Advanced Torah.]
…53
And the seven years of plenty, that was in the land of Egypt, came to an end. 54 And the seven years of famine began to come, according as Joseph
had said; and there was famine in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there
was bread. 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the
people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians: 'Go
unto Joseph; what he says to you, do.'
Egypt is a large country in land area and I assume that from one
central storage facility there were smaller distribution areas that Yosef
appointed overseers or administrators of the distribute. However, for foreign
delegations, it would be in the capital and by this, Yosef would control who
received what and that no spies or enemies would try to test Egypt. This will
lead way to his comments to the brothers. He may also have had his equivalent
to our “no fly list” of today with the name ben Yacov or ben Yisrael on it.
56
And the famine was over all the face of the earth; and Joseph opened all the
storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine was sore in the land
of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy grain; because the famine was sore in all the earth.
All the selling of Yosef and his meteoric rise combined with the plenty
and famine was to fulfill the prophecy given at the Bris between the pieces with
Avraham. Because Yacov was such a Tzaddik and his children, minus the sale of
Yosef, G-D fearing; he was brought down to Egypt on a wagon. (Based on Rashi
and the Medrash)
42:1 Now Jacob saw that there was grain in
Egypt, and Jacob said unto his sons: 'Why do ye look one upon another?' 2 And
he said: 'Behold, I have heard that there is grain in
Egypt. Get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and
not die.' 3 And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn from Egypt. 4 But
Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said:
'Lest peradventure harm befall him.'
He was all that Yacov thought he had from Rachel, his
late beloved wife.
5 And the sons of Israel came to buy among those that came; for the
famine was in the land of Canaan. 6 And Joseph was the governor over the land;
he it was that sold to all the people of the land. And Joseph's brethren came,
and bowed down to him with their faces to the earth. … 9 And Joseph remembered
the dreams which he dreamed of them, and said unto them: 'Ye are spies; to see
the nakedness of the land ye are come.'
Because they bowed down unto him, he remembered the
dreams of long ago.
10 And they said unto him: 'Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy
servants come. 11 We are all one man's sons; we are upright men, thy servants
are no spies.' 12 And he said unto them: 'Nay, but to see the nakedness of the
land ye are come.' 13 And they said: 'We thy servants are twelve brethren, the
sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day
with our father, and one is not.' 14 And Joseph said unto them: 'That is it
that I spoke unto you, saying: Ye are spies. 15 Hereby ye shall be proved, as
Pharaoh lives, ye shall not go forth hence, except your youngest brother come
hither.
First of all, he wants to test them and how they treat
Benyamin as then he would know that he is treated as a brother and not hated.
16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be
bound, that your words may be proved, whether there be truth in you; or else,
as Pharaoh lives, surely ye are spies.' 17 And he put them all together into
ward three days.
The time that Yosef was in the pit is not specified and
there is no reason to assume it was in the course of a day, it could have been
longer and Reuven had three days for business to attend to and the travels to return.
18 And Joseph said unto them the third day. 'This do, and live; for
I fear God: 19 if ye be upright men, let one of your brethren be bound in your
prison-house; but go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses; 20 and bring
your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall
not die.' And they did so. 21 And they said one to another: 'We are verily
guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the distress of his soul, when he
besought us, and we would not hear; therefore, is this distress come upon us.'
22 And Reuben answered them, saying: 'Spoke I not unto you, saying: Do not sin
against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore also, behold, his blood is
required.'
Yosef is now learning what was behind the original
throwing into the pit and misbehavior on the part of the brothers. Now we are
getting Mida Knegged Mida for our behavior.
23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for the
interpreter was between them. 24 And he turned himself about from them, and
wept; and he returned to them, and spoke to them, and took Simeon from among
them, and bound him before their eyes.
Now the hot tempered instigator is going to face some
jail time which Yosef faced.
25 Then Joseph commanded to fill their vessels with grain, and to restore every man's money into his
sack, and to give them provision for the way; and thus was it done unto them.
26 And they laded their asses with their grain,
and departed thence. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass
provender in the lodging-place, he espied his money; and, behold, it was in the
mouth of his sack. 28 And he said unto his brethren: 'My money is restored;
and, lo, it is even in my sack.' And their heart failed them, and they turned
trembling one to another, saying: 'What is this that God hath done unto us?'
29 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan,
and told him all that had befallen them, saying: 30 'The man, the lord of the
land, spoke roughly with us, and took us for spies of the country. 31 And we
said unto him: We are upright men; we are no spies. 32 We are twelve brethren,
sons of our father; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in
the land of Canaan. 33 And the man, the lord of the land, said unto us: Hereby
shall I know that ye are upright men: leave one of your brethren with me, and
take grain for the famine of your houses, and
go your way. 34 And bring your youngest brother unto me; then shall I know that
ye are no spies, but that ye are upright men; so will I deliver you your
brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.'
You country bumpkins couldn’t you say that you were 10
brothers. Why did you have to talk (like the leaks from a cabinet meeting in
Israel) and give too many details. Couldn’t you have kept out of the public eye
all family details.
…36 And Jacob their father said unto them: 'Me have ye bereaved of
my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away;
upon me are all these things come.' 37 And Reuben spoke unto his father,
saying: 'Thou shalt slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee; deliver him
into my hand, and I will bring him back to thee.'
What good is that? I will kill off Shevet Reuven (tribe
of) and my own continuation of grandchildren and there will be not a
remembrance of Rachel at all in my house.
38 And he said: 'My son shall not go down with you; for his brother
is dead, and he only is left; if harm befall him by the way in which ye go,
then will ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.
If you are so fast in your decisions as water falls
down from a mountain, you will not protect my son Benyamin.
43:1 And the famine was sore in the land. 2 And it came to pass,
when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, that their
father said unto them: 'Go again, buy us a little food.' … 8 And Judah said
unto Israel his father: 'Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go, that
we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will
be surety for him; of my hand shalt thou require him; if I bring him not unto
thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever. 10 For
except we had lingered, surely we had now returned a second time.'
Yehuda, as bad as he had been with his idea of the sale
to save Yosef physically from his older brothers, he did believe in the next
world and had merits. He offered to Yacov his place in the next world for
Yosef. After all, Yehuda had such merits and leadership that the Moshiach would
sprout from him and will be with Levi the first tribes to return. [In truth
there some other tribes mixed in, especially Benyamin, Dan and our Olympic
medalist this year has a family name which means “from Naphtali”.]
11 And their father Israel said unto them: 'If it be so now, do
this: take of the choice fruits of the land in your vessels, and carry down the
man a present, a little balm, and a little honey, spicery and ladanum, nuts,
and almonds; 12 and take double money in your hand; and the money that was returned
in the mouth of your sacks carry back in your hand; peradventure it was an
oversight; 13 take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man; 14 and
God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release unto you your
other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, if I be bereaved of my children, I
am bereaved.' 15 And the men took that present, and they took double money in
their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before
Joseph. 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of
his house: 'Bring the men into the house, and slaughter
the beasts, and prepare the meat; for the men shall dine with me at noon.' 17
And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph's
house. … 23 And he said: 'Peace be to you, fear not; your God, and the God of
your father, has given you treasure in your sacks; I had your money.' And he
brought Simeon out unto them. 24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's
house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses
provender.
They never thought that the water for their feet was
part of the custom of Avraham and his treatment of guests from the way.
25 And they made ready the present against Joseph's coming at noon;
for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26 And when Joseph came home,
they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed
down to him to the earth. 27 And he asked them of their welfare, and said: 'Is
your father well, the old man of whom ye spoke? Is he yet alive?' 28 And they
said: 'Thy servant our father is well, he is yet alive.' And they bowed
the head, and made obeisance.
Because he let them say our father is they servant a
number of times, Yosef’s life ended ten years early according to the Medash.
29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw Benjamin his brother, his
mother's son, and said: 'Is this your youngest brother of whom ye spoke unto
me?' And he said: 'God be gracious unto thee, my son.' 30 And Joseph made haste;
for his heart yearned toward his brother; and he sought where to weep; and he
entered into his chamber, and wept there. … 33 And they sat before him, the
firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth;
and the men marveled one with another. 34 And portions were taken unto them
from before him; but Benjamin's portion was five times so much as any of
theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
He tested them and they were not jealous of Benyamin.
44:1 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying: 'Fill the
men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in
his sack's mouth. 2 And put my goblet, the silver goblet, in the sack's mouth
of the youngest, and his corn money.' … Joseph said unto his steward: 'Up,
follow after the men; and when thou dost overtake them, say unto them:
Wherefore have ye rewarded evil for good?
Now comes the main test to see if they will stand-up
for Benyamin or abandon him to be a slave as they did to Yosef.
5 Is not this it in which my lord drinks, and whereby he indeed
divines? ye have done evil in so doing.'
Yosef made himself into a prophet for them and told
them all their history which he knew for the first 17 years. They had been aghast
at this for how could an Avoda Zara fellow know such details.
… 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, let him die, and
we also will be my lord's bondmen.'
This is long before the concept of “Guard Your Tongue”
and they talked foolishly about killing one of them for being a thief.
10 And he said: 'Now also let it be according unto your words: he
with whom it is found shall be my bondman; and ye shall be blameless.'
Yosef’s servant or Menashe spoke thusly with them.
11 Then they hastened, and took down every man his sack to the
ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, beginning at the
eldest, and leaving off at the youngest; and the goblet was found in Benjamin's
sack. 13 And they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned
to the city.
He came to offer himself for Benyamin as he figured
this was a set up for using him for homosexual practices. He was the guarantee of
Benyamin and no matter what, he would do anything in his power to save him.
14 And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph's house, and he was
yet there; and they fell before him on the ground. 15 And Joseph said unto
them: 'What deed is this that ye have done? know ye not that such a man as I
will indeed divine?' 16 And Judah said: 'What shall we say unto my lord? what
shall we speak? or how shall we clear ourselves? God hath found out the
iniquity of thy servants; behold, we are my lord's bondmen, both we, and he
also in whose hand the cup is found.' 17 And he said: 'Far be it from me that I
should do so; the man in whose hand the goblet is found, he shall be my
bondman; but as for you, get you up in peace unto your father.'
It is at this point that he realizes this is no longer
Mida Knegged Mida for Benyamin had nothing to do with the sale.
92 year-old Nazi Fighter finds out that she is Jewish. http://www.chabad.org/news/article_cdo/aid/3522330/jewish/92-Year-Old-Nazi-Fighter-and-Her-Newfound-Jewish-Identity.htm
Raised Catholic, Hacker says she was unaware that she was Jewish until last year, when she met Rabbi Yosef Rodal of the Chabad of Rural and Regional Australia, who visited the town of Jindabyne where she resides. When she mentioned to the rabbi that her maternal grandmother was Jewish, he surprised Hacker by stating that meant she was as well.
Yet it wasn’t until a chance (some might say providential) encounter with Rabbi Shmueli Feldman, who directs Chabad ACT (Australian Capital Territory) in the country’s capital of Canberra with his wife, Chasia, right before Rosh Hashanah that she really began to explore her newfound identity.
Feldman and his oldest daughter, 5-year-old Chaya Mushka, were dropping off packages of apples and honey to an area hospital, along with cards made by students at the local Chabad preschool. Even though no Jewish patients were listed there at the time, the rabbi was planning to leave a few packages in the chaplaincy office when the supervisor told him about an older woman in the cardiac unit who said she identified with the Jewish faith. Intrigued, Feldman and his daughter headed for that wing in search of the patient.
When they reached the room, they saw an elderly woman sitting in the hallway just outside the door. The rabbi informed her that they were there to see Christina Hacker.
“She lit up and said, ‘I’m Christina.’ She then ushered us into her room,” related the rabbi.
Telling Her Story
As they sat there on a Friday afternoon, Hacker—who has multiple medical issues, including trouble with her hearing and sight—made it clear that she wanted to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and come to the communal dinner that Chabad was hosting for the Jewish new year.
“She was in the heart unit, so I said: ‘If your doctor allows it, then I’ll arrange for someone to pick you up,’ ” said Feldman. “On Sunday, before Rosh Hashanah started, she called and said her doctor would discharge her so she could come to dinner.”
Though her husbands were Jewish (Hacker married three times), this was the first time that she herself celebrated the holiday as a Jew.
“During the meal at the Chabad House,” said the rabbi, “I asked her to tell her story.”
Born and raised in Austria, Hacker grew up under Hitler’s rule. As a teenager, she described being part of the resistance movement working to smuggle Jews and others over the Austrian border and into Italy. In total, she believes that she helped 48 Jews and 10 other people escape.
During the war, she confided her actions to one person: her grandmother.
Hacker said that “when I told her about the first job I did going over the border, I said: ‘I have to tell you secret; you must not tell anyone.’ I said I have only you to trust, and she said: ‘Don’t trust me with this; you must not tell anyone.’ ”
It was then that her grandmother revealed her own secret: that she was
Jewish. The family had all been baptized and no official records of her
Jewishness existed, but she wanted her granddaughter to know the truth.
Still, the direct lineage had not been properly explained to Hacker until
now.
“After all these years, finding out I myself am Jewish . . . it’s the first
time in my life that I feel I belong,” the rabbi reported her saying at the
holiday meal.
Hacker brought the room to tears. “It was so emotional,” said Feldman. “I
spoke after her and said that we promise to be here as a measure of thanks on
behalf of all the thousands of Jews who are alive today because of you. We
promise to be here for you and be a family.”
Hacker said that getting to spend Rosh Hashanah with the Jewish community
made her “very happy, very happy—that someone cared and wanted me.”
Awaiting the Next Holiday
Just a few weeks ago, Hacker spent a traditional Shabbat with the Feldmans
and their five young children.
Of the nonagenarian, Chasia Feldman said: “She is really quite incredible.
It is inspirational to see the way she deals with her lack of eyesight. She is
accepting of the reality, manages things well and does not complain. And she is
a kind and thoughtful individual.”
Hacker even managed to entertain the younger Feldmans.
“She put the children on her lap and sang nursery rhymes to them,” related
Chasia Feldman. “Even though she doesn’t have her eyesight, she has a
tremendous amount of insight. She has an understanding of what needs to be
done, as if she could actually see what is going on around her.”
Now back in Jindabyne, more than two hours away from Canberra, Hacker is
looking forward to Chanukah. She plans on holding a party at home, which
she shares with her 73-year-old son, who upon learning that he was Jewish put
on tefillin for the first time (she also has three daughters).
But she isn’t tackling it alone. Rabbi Rodal and visiting rabbinical
students will be helping with the celebration, spreading a little bit more
light Down Under.
REMEMBER WE LIGHT THE CHANUCHA LIGHTS BEFORE THE
SHABBOS CANDLES AND THEY HAVE TO BURN 30 MINUTES AFTER SUNSET. SO USE CANDLES
THAT ARE LONG ENOUGH TO LAST MORE THAN 50 MINUTES.
Inyanay
Diyoma
J-Street can’t have it both ways on the Shoah: https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/12/22/j-streets-hypocrisy-on-holocaust-analogies-you-cant-have-it-both-ways/
Salvation Army never really let Jews enjoy there shelters except
for missionizing them. https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/12/22/salvation-army-apologizes-reviews-statement-on-jews/
President Elect is not an anti-Semite: https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/12/22/top-us-jewish-leader-theres-not-an-antisemitic-bone-in-trumps-body/
Really Ethnic Cleansing in Syria: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/222191
Terrorist shot dead but believe me he is not the last we heard from “The religion of Peace”: http://debka.com/article/25854/Before-he-died-Amri-said-“kill-all-crusader-pigs”
If not for Al-Sisi, Barak Hussein Osama would not have vetoed the resolution: https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/12/22/vote-on-egypt-promoted-anti-israeli-settlement-un-security-council-resolution-delayed-after-netanyahu-pressures-sisi/
But Barak Hussein has his evil way. https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/12/23/with-obama-administration-abstaining-un-security-council-approves-anti-israeli-settlement-resolution/
Ed-OP Destroying a settlement a strategic defeat of Israel and neglegates Zionism. http://www.strategic-israel.org/1591/into-the-fray-amona-a-strategic-defeat-for-zionism/
Debka thinks that Obama’s Policy could promote a new Middle-East War. http://debka.com/article/25856/UNSC-resolution-promotes-Mid-East-war
Time for Israel to cut off funds to the UN and annex Settlements: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/222214
In the wake of the Syrian Victory Iran issues a new threat to Israel: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/222257
Obama helped the PLO draft the UN Resolution no accident. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/222260
Red Army Choir was scheduled to preform in Israel in Jan. They all die in a plane crash. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4898395,00.html
Debka analysis of the plane crash and links it to terror. http://debka.com/article/25858/Plane-crash-ups-Syria-tied-Russian-deaths-to-310
Anti-Semitism in France: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4898763,00.html
Proposed law - Fines for Facebook if they allow anti-Semitic Groups and certain sites blocked: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/222292
Paris Conference to go through as the left gives a last fling before the right takes over France and Trump comes in in the USA. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4898780,00.html
Barry makes a good point why should I annex what is my G-D given land? Ed-Op from Barry Shaw: To those who call for Israel to annex all or parts of Judea & Samaria I advise them to think again.
Israel should apply sovereignty over territory not annex it.
Applying sovereignty indicates that we have the legitimate rights to nationhood over that territory. Annexation indicates that a country has added territory to their original land. This is not the case with Israel.
We have legitimate rights to the land going back to approved British Government policy before 1922 but confirmed and passed into international law unanimously with the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine with recognized the historic connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and clearly calls for the reconstitution of our national home there.
This was an exclusive and specific condition of the League of Nations mandate. No other mandate specified any national or religious group.
The Palestinian Authority can bang their heads on the doors of Westminster in trying to get Britain to apologize or rescind the Balfour Declaration. They won't but even if they did the Palestinians will be unable to get over the legal barrier of the League of Nations whose purpose was to create the Jewish state is further enshrined in the founding charter of the United Nations. No matter what this organization has turned into they will have to alter their own founding document that gives Israel our legitimacy over the territories.
Facebook fails to remove incitement posts: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4898824,00.html
Jan. 20th or 21st this will be given to
President Trump. http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=39111
Thanks to Lee W. New Israeli Law no more tax benefits for returning
residents. http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=409177&utm_content=buffere50f7&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer
What else does Obama have in store – a PLO State? https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/12/27/top-us-jewish-leader-obama-administration-might-take-further-damaging-step-against-israel-before-trump-inauguration/
President Elect Trump puts the UN in their proper place in the
rubbish bin of history: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4900187,00.html
Turkish Army stalled by ISIS: http://debka.com/article/25860/Turkish-army-like-Iraqis-stalled-by-ISIS-pushback
Syrian truce deal without the USA which at present has no
leadership. http://debka.com/article/25861/Syria-ready-for-truce-Assad-stays-US-is-left-out
Good Shabbos, Chodesh Tov and Chanucha Samayach,
Rachamim Pauli
